'Dead' man comes alive; doctor held for medical negligence

In a shocking case of medical negligence, a 58-year-old man declared dead by his doctor in a private hospital showed signs of life on the same day his family had made all the arrangements for his last rites.

Chandrakanth Gangurde, a Dharavi resident was admitted to Atharva Hospital in Sion on December 5 after he was diagnosed with clots in his brain for which he was undergoing treatment in the ICU of the hospital.

While doctors informed the family that he did not require surgery and was being administered medicines, said Vinod Randive, police inspector at Sion police station.

The family had made all the arrangements for Chandrakanth Gangurde's (inset) funeral.

“On December 10, the incharge of the hospital Dr Atul Chirmade informed the kin that he was almost dead. However, the relatives insisted that he should be kept on ventilator support throughout the night and started making arrangements for his funeral,” said Randive.

However, the next morning, Gangurde’s relatives were pleasantly shocked to see that he was still breathing and was moving his limbs. They then informed the doctors at around 10 am, who put him back on the saline drip only after 12 pm, added the police inspector.

“We had informed all our relatives about his death and were devastated when the doctor told us about his death. On seeing signs of life, we then alerted the police,” said Atul, Gangurde’s son.

A case of negligence under section 336 was registered after investigations were carried out.

“We arrested Dr Chirmade on Wednesday night and he was produced in court on Thursday afternoon as it was clearly a case of medical negligence. From 10 am to 12 pm after the relatives discovered that Gangurde was still alive, he was not attended to,” said the police inspector.